Ink-well.



Patented Feb. 20, I900.

No. 643,798. J. L. KEBSTETTER.

INK WELL.

(Application filed Aug. 2, 1899.)

(No mau came/whoa meslfirsfefier UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. KERSTETTER, OF BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO lV. J. RUSSELL AND F. W. WINGER, OF SAME PLACE.

lNK-WEL L.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 643,798, dated February 20, 1906.

Application filed August 2, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES L. KERSTETTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bradford, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Ink-\Vell, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to inkstands, particularly of the type known as fountain-inkstands, in which ink is automatically supplied to the well from a reservoir as rapidly as it is used. Its object is to provide an efficient and inexpensive article of the class described in which the supply of ink to the well may be regulated, so that a greater or less quantity may be had, as desired; and it further includes means for cutting off the supply from the reservoir, whereby evaporation is prevented and a great saving in ink effected.

My invention further consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings which form a part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inkstank constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. section on the line at a; of Fig. 2 with the plug removed. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View on the line y y of Fig. 3, showing the plug turned in one position. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the plug turned in another position. Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of the plug.

The numeral 1 designates themain body of the inkstand, which is preferably constructed of glass. One portion of the body is formed into the rectangular closed receptacle or supply-reservoir 2, which is provided at one end with the contracted neck 3 and open-top well 4. This body is further provided with a flange 5, which extends around the lower edge of the same and is higher at the end opposite the well, whereby the body declines toward the well, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The topof the well is below the level of the top of the reservoir, and the bottom is likewise extended below the plane of the bottom of the reservoir, asat 6, forming a seat for the bottom of the plug 11.

The communication between the reservoir 2 and the well 4 is maintained through the Fig. 3 is a vertical Serial No. 725,906. (No model.)

passage 7, whose lower end is level with the bottom of the reservoir and whose upper end is of irregular formation, being provided with a series of port-forming portions 8, 9, and 10 at difierent elevations.

Rotatably mounted within the well 4 is the hollow cylindrical plug 11, the lower end of which is seated in the well-bottom 6 and is provided at its upper end with the outwardlyextending circular flange 12. The central opening 13 in this plug tapers from the top toward the bottom and is provided on one side with two openings 14 and 15, one directly above the other. The upper opening 14 is long enough to aline with all the port-forming portions 8, 9, and 10 of the passage 7. The lower opening 15 alines with the lower end of the passage 7 and extends to the bot tom of the plug, as shown in Fig. 2.

Arranged upon the fiange 12 and directly over the openings 14 and 15 is the pointer 16, and located on the top of the reservoir, directly over the difierent port-forming portions 8, 9, and 10 of the passage 7, are arranged register-marks 17.

In filling my ink-well the plug 11 is removed and the body held in nearly vertical position with the well at the upper end. The ink is then poured into the passage 7 until the reservoir is full, whereupon the plug is replaced with the openings 14 and 15 out of alinement with the passage 7. The inkstand is then placed in operative position, when by turning the plug until the opening 14 alines with the lowest port 8, as will be shown by the indicator 16 and 17, air will be admitted to the reservoir through the opening 14 and the ink will run into the well through the opening 15 and fill the same to a height equal to the height 8 of the passage 7. If the plug is turned until the opening 14 alines with either of the other ports of the passage, the well will fill with ink to the level of that passage, and as fast as the ink is used it will automatically refill to the desired height.

To empty the well, it is only necessary to tip the stand backward, whereupon the ink will run back into the reservoir, and if the plug is then turned until the passage 7 and openings 14 and 15 are out of alinement the supply of ink to the well will be entirely cut off.

I sorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic inkstand, a reservoir, and a well communicating therewith by a single passage, the top of which has portions of difiierent heights, in combination with a hollow plug rotatably mounted in said well and having a side opening, the upper end of which is on a level with the highest point of the passage, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic inkstand, a reservoir, and a well in communication therewith by a single passage, the top of which has portions of dilferent heights, in combination with a hollow plug rotatably mounted in said well and having a side opening, the upper end of which is on a level with the highest point of the passage, and a second opening below and in vertical alinement with the aforesaid opening and also adapted to be brought into communication with said passage, substantially as specified.

3. In an automatic inkstand, the combina tion with asupply-reservoir, of a well having a passage communicating with the reservoir, and constructed with a series of port-forming portions respectively of different elevations, a hollow plug rotatably mounted in the well and having openings in one side which are adapted to aline simultaneously with different parts of the passage and thereby regulate the flow of ink to the well, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. KERSTETTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, FLORENCE E. WALTER. 

